Williams prepares own slavery apology

ATLANTA - The prime advocate of a formal apology from the state over slavery said Friday he is not ready to give up despite the loss of support from legislative leaders, meaning his initiative will not be approved this year.

Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, who has been working for weeks on potential wording for a resolution with Senate Republicans, has now drafted his own measure.

He said he was prepared to introduce it as early as next week or wait until next year - or the year after - until enough momentum builds to pass it.

"I'm in it for the duration," he said surrounded by black lawmakers Friday during a Capitol press conference.

Williams' statements came a day after Sen. Eric Johnson, R-Savannah, said he no longer would push for a resolution in the upper chamber because Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown, D-Macon, had not asked for one.

"The ball's in his court," Johnson said Friday.

Brown, who is black, said he believes an apology is "beneath the dignity of the chamber" and would be a punishment that does not come close to addressing the crime.

"I've never had a personal interest in an apology," he said.

Although he has stayed away from negotiations, Brown said he was not to blame for the measure losing steam in the Senate.

"It was being portrayed that I was being the one to obstruct, and that is absolutely not true," he said.

Williams, who is head of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, showed frustration that several other Southern states this year have adopted resolutions apologizing for slavery.

North Carolina's Legislature became the most recent when its House agreed unanimously Wednesday.

Though some GOP leaders in Georgia's Legislature were critical of a similar apology, others like Johnson initially appeared to be receptive of a measure to express regret about slavery.

Williams said he does not see the difference between the two phrases.

"I have a lot of difficulty with the splitting of hairs," he said. "What's the real difference? It's just a matter of a choice of words."